Combination inside-outside spud wrench



Nov. l0, 1964 v. R. PLUNTz COMBINATION INSIDE-OUTSIDE SPUD WRENCH FiledAug. 21, 1962 Q INVENTOR y N Vance ,EP/an E; ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent O 3 156 141 coMnrNArroN rNsInn-obrsmn sron WRENCH Vance R.Pluntz, 4315 Knoll Top Drive, indianapolis, Ind. Filed Aug. 21, 1962,Ser. No. 218,272 2 Claims. (Cl. Slt-53) This invention is an improvedmultiple spud wrench especially adapted for assembling and disassemblingthe water inlet connection on urinals and commodes commonly known eitheras a spud or as a nipple.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide a simple tool whichwill accomplish the task usually performed by the use of two or moretools in combination, my novel wrench including sockets, a pawl, and anengaging L-shaped handle that lits through the center of the sockets andpawl; also to provide a wrench that fits the two most common sizes ofspud nipples known and used in the plumbing industry and slides on aforward and reverse ratchet; also to provide a wrench that fits the twomajor connections by simply turning the wrench over, there being noadjustment and no slippage.

The connection for which my novel wrench is intended consists of fourparts, to wit, (a) the nipple itself, also referred to as a Spud; (b) arubber gasket sealing ring; (c) a brass retaining washer; and (d) alocking nut, all of which are assembled in the foregoing sequence.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wrench that also litsand is useful in assembling and disassembling basket strainers ofkitchen sinks; and a wrench that performs two or more operations at onetime.

Summarizing, the primary object of my invention is to provide a spudwrench for assembling and dissembling Spud assemblies in water inlets ofcommodes or the like in which the spud assembly includes an externallythreaded nipple to receive a locking nut, and has a flange at its endengaging the walls of the commode inlet, and said nipple having a seriesof inwardly extending spaced lugs in its bore, the spud wrench accordingto my invention comprising a lever having a non-circular end portion, ahead adapted to be inserted in the nipple having a series of recesses inits outer periphery adapted to engage the lugs of the nipple, and havinga non-circular central hole receiving the correspondingly shaped end ofthe lever, a ratchet head rotatably and slidably mounted on the leverabove the iirst head and having ratchet teeth therearound, a ratchetlever rotatably mounted on the ratchet head and carrying a pawl forengaging the ratchet teeth in one direction of swing of the ratchetlever for engaging the ratchet teeth to rotate the ratchet head with theratchet lever, a socket sleeve xedly mounted on the ratchet head adaptedto engage the locking nut to rotate the latter as the ratchet head isbeing rotated, while the nipple is held from rotation by the firstlever, said socket sleeve having a circular inner end, a disk mounted onthe ratchet head and iixedly mounted within the circular inner end ofthe socket sleeve, and the outer end of the socket sleeve having anon-circular shape to suit that ofthe locking nut and being radiallyspaced from and concentrically surrounding the first named head.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing,which illustrates one practical embodirnent thereof, to enable othersfamiliar with the art to adopt and use the same; and will summarize inthe claims, the novel features of construction, and novel combinationsof parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawing:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through my novel combination inside-outsideSpud wrench showing the same applied to the nipple or Spud assembly asattached to the commode or urinal, and showing the locking nut of thenipple seated upon the brass retaining Washer disposed'above the rubbergasket sealing ring.

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FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the parts of the wrench separated from thehandle per se.

FIG. 3 is a top plan View of the separable nipple engaging head of thewrench.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of one of the socket wrench sleeves of the wrench,showing the non-circular or hexagonal end thereof which engages thecorrespondingly shaped locking nut of the nipple assembly.

As shown in FlG. 1, the standard spud or nipple assembly on which mynovel wrench is intended to operate consists of the nipple A itself, arubber gasket sealing ring B, a brass retaining washer C, and a lockingnut D, which assembly as shown is that normally used in connection withsuch commodes and urinals and other plumbing lixtures. As shown, thecommode T has a water inlet T in one face thereof, the walls of whichare upwardly convergent to facilitate the attachment of the nipple Athereto. The nipple A is threaded at its upper end, as at A and has atits lower end an outwardly flaring or conical flange A2, the outer walls0f which are parallel with the converging walls T of the commode inlet,and normally the conical flange A?, is disposed within the commode inletT', as shown in FIG. l, but is spaced therefrom in order to engage thecorrespondingly shaped conical flange B of the rubber gasket sealingring B, the upper end of which ring B normally seats upon the top ofcommode T, the same having an annular flange B2 of greater diameter thanthe inlet opening T of the commode. Upon the top of the iiange B isplaced the brass retaining washer C as shown in FIG. l; and the lockingnut D is threaded upon the threaded portion A of nipple A and squarelycontacts and compresses the retaining washer C and also the gasketsealing ring B to form a water-tight connection between the convergingWalls T of the commode inlet and the flange A2 ofthe nipple assembly.The completed connection of the nipple assembly to the commode T is suchthat the compression of the sealing ring B must withstand 40 to 60pounds water pressure per square inch in order to effectively connectthe nipple assembly to the commode.

With respect to the nipple A, as shown in FG. 1, the nipples of standarddesign are provided in the bores thereof adjacent the conical flange A2with a series of four inwardly extending lugs A3 disposed 90 apart, theprovision of the lugs A3 being standard on substantially all nipples forconnection to urinals, commodes or the like.

My novel wrench makes use of these standard lugs A3 of the nipple, andas shown in FIG. l, my wrench includes an l -shaped lever 1 adapted tobe disposed axially of the nipple assembly, lever 1 having at its upperend a lateral extension 1a which is preferably of greater or less lengththan the vertical portion 1 so that either end of the lever may beutilized in making the assembly. As shown, each end of lever 1a isprovided with a reduced squared extension lb for insertion into thecorrespondingly shaped central hole 2a in the head 2, FIGS. l and 3,which head 2 is further provided in its lower periphery with recesses2b, four being shown disposed 90 apart, which recesses correspond inshape and arrangement with the lugs A3 of nipple A when the block 2 isinserted down through the loosely assembled nipple assembly as shown inFlG. 1, the lower squared end 1b of the lever 1 engaging thecorrespondingly shaped central hole 2a of head 2. When so engaged it isobvious that the lever 1 may be grasped by one hand of the operator orplumber, and the loosely assembled nipple assembly including the nippleA prevented from rotation within the opening T of commode T,

which is an essential feature of my novel wrench.

Rotatably mounted upon and around the lever 1 is a rotatable ratchetassembly head 3 having ratchet teeth 3a extending around same adapted tobe engaged 'oy a pawl l pivoted as at da in a ratchet handle 5, thehandle S having journals Sb engaging bearing surfaces disposed above andbelow the ratchet teeth 3a, whereby the ratchet head 3 may be freelyrotated on the lever 1, the pawl 4 riding over the teeth 3a duringswinging of the lever in one di rection but engaging the teeth 3a duringthe opposite swinging movement of the lever 1 so that the ratchet head 3may be revolved around the lever 1 during movement of the ratchet lever5 in said opposite direction, the lever 1 being, as above stated, heldstationary by the other hand of the plumber or operator during actuationof the ratchet lever 5.

Fixedly mounted upon one end 3b of the ratchet head 3 is a circular disc6 of somewhat smaller diameter than the locking nut D, and xedly securedto the periphery of the disc 6 is a socket wrench 7 having its lower end7a formed as shown in FIG. 4 to hexagonal shape to engage thecorrespondingly shaped locking nut D, whereby rotan tion of the ratchetlever` 5 in one direction will rotate the locking nut D on thestationary threaded portion of the nipple A, thereby compressing thegasket B of the nipple assembly so as to withstand water pressures up to4() or 60 pounds per square inch.

The opposite end of the ratchet head 3 has an extension 3c, FIG. 1, uponwhich is mounted a disk 8- similar to but smaller than the disk 5, and asecond socket wrench 9, FIGS. 1 and 2, having a non-circular outer end9a is mounted for rotation with the disk 8 and ratchet head 3, thesocket wrench 9 being preferably of smaller size than the socket wrench7 so as to be usable in attaching smaller standard sizes of nippleassemblies by merely upending the ratchet assembly 3-9 on the lever i.In connection with the smaller socket wrench 9 a corresponding head 10,FIG. 2, would be used similar in all respects to, but smaller indiameter than, the head 2.

By the above arrangement the wrench may be readily assembled by merelyfirst inserting the ratchet assembly 3 to 9 as a unit on one end of theend of the lever 1, inserting the block 2 (or lil) down into thestandard nipple as shown in FIG. 1, using the appropriate size with thesquared end 1b thereof engaged in the hole 2a of the head, and then theoperator by holding with one hand the horizontal arm 1a of the lever 1,and by manipulating the ratchet lever 5 with the other hand, The looselyassembled nipple assembly can be readily tightened in the inlet T of thecommode T, the arm 1a of the wrench preventing rotation of the nipple Aand ratchet lever 5 rotating the socket wrench 7 (or 9) and also thelocking nut D with each movement of the ratchet lever 5 in one directionof swing. Such movement of the ratchet lever 5 while holding the leverarm 1a against rotation, will complete the tightening of the locking nutD of the nipple assembly securing same to the commode T, the ange B2 ofrubber sealing ring B being forced against the top of the commode T andthe flange B' of the rubber sealing ring B which normally is ofapproximately Ms thickness in the portion B', being sealed against theconverging inlet walls T of the commode T so that the connection willwithstand from 40 to 60 pounds water pressure per square inch.

My novel wrench therefore provides a very etiective and convenient toolfor accomplishing the spud or nipple connection, and provides a wrenchin the form of a single tool, thus dispensing with the customary use ofseveral tools to accomplish the same purpose. Moreover, my assembly isone which permits the plumber or workman to operate in very confinedspaces, the Wrench holding the nipple against rotation while the lockingnut D is being threaded tightly onto the nipple A. It desired theratchet may be suchthat the samewill operate on forward or reversemovements so as to take care of any nipples or locking nuts which areright-handed or left-handed.

My novel wrench may also be used in assembling and disassembling basketstrainers on kitchen sinks; and also provides a wrench which performstwo or more operations at the same time, i.e., the tightening of thelocking nut D and the prevention of rotation of the nipple A. The use ofmy novel wrench permits the proper connection to be made inapproximately one-third of the time necessary when using the usualseparate conventional tools.

I do not limit my invention to the exact form shown in the drawing, forobviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A spud wrench for assembling and disassembling spud assemblies inwater inlets of commodes or the like in which the spud assembly includesan externally threaded nipple to receive a locking nut, and has a flangeat its end engaging the walls of the commode inlet, and said nipplehaving a series of inwardly extending spaced lugs in its bore,comprising a lever having a non-circular end portion; a head adapted tobe removably inserted in the nipple and having a series of recesses inits outer periphery adapted to receive and engage the lugs of saidnipple, and having a non-circular central hole receiving thecorrespondingly shaped end of the lever; a ratchet head rotatably andslidably mounted on said lever above the tirs-t head and having ratchetteeth therearound; a ratchet lever rotatably mounted on said ratchethead; a pawl car ried by said ratchet lever for engaging the ratchetteeth in one direction of swing of the ratchet lever to rotate theratchet head with the ratchet lever; a socket sleeve tixedly mounted onthe ratchet head, said sleeve being adapted to engage the locking nut torotate the latter as the ratchet head is being rotated while the nippleis held from rotaion by the first lever; said sleeve having a circularinner end, a disc xediy mounted on the ratchet head, said disc beingfixedly mounted within the circular inner end of the socket sleeve; andthe outer end of said socket sleeve having a non-circular shape to suitthat of the locking nut and radially spaced from and concentricallysurrounding the first named head.

2. A spud wrench comprising a lever having a noncircular end portion; aremovable head having a series of recesses in its lower periphery andhaving a non-circular central hole adapted to receive thecorrespondingly shaped end of the lever; a removable ratchet headrotatably and slidably mounted on said lever above the iirst head andhaving ratchet teeth therearound; a ratchet lever rotatably mounted onsaid ratchet head; a pawl carried by said ratchet lever for engaging theratchet teeth in one direction of swing of the ratchet lever to rotatethe ratchet head with the ratchet lever; a socket sleeve fixedly mountedon the ratchet head; said socket sleeve having a circular inner end, adisc iixedly mounted on the ratchet head, said disc being iixedlymounted within the circular inner end of the socket sleeve; and theouter end of said socket sleeve having a non-circular shape and radiallyspaced from and concentrically surrounding the first named head.

References Gited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 595,737 12/97Schlangen. 1,475,834 11/23 Kadow 81-63 1,723,074 8/29 Rauch til- 57.52,545,391 3/51 Stanton. 2,605,664 8/ 52 Galbraith. 2,752,809 7/56Lehmann 81-55 2,8913 62 7/59 Jamgotchain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Exmnner.

1. A SPUD WRENCH FOR ASSEMBLING AND DISASSEMBLING SPUD ASSEMBLIES INWATER INLETS OF COMMODES OR THE LIKE IN WHICH THE SPUD ASSEMBLY INCLUDESAN EXTERNALLY THREADED NIPPLE TO RECEIVE A LOCKING NUT, AND HAS A FLANGEAT ITS END ENGAGING THE WALLS OF THE COMMODE INLET, AND SAID NIPPLEHAVING A SERIES OF INWARDLY EXTENDING SPACED LUGS IN ITS BORE,COMPRISING A LEVER HAVING A NON-CIRCULAR END PORTION; A HEAD ADAPTED TOBE REMOVABLY INSERTED IN THE NIPPLE AND HAVING A SERIES OF RECESSES INITS OUTER PERIPHERY ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND ENGAGE THE LUGS OF SAIDNIPPLE, AND HAVING A NON-CIRCULAR CENTRAL HOLE RECEIVING THECORRESPONDINGLY SHAPED END OF THE LEVER; A RATCHET HEAD ROTATABLY ANDSLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID LEVER ABOVE THE FIRST HEAD AND HAVING RATCHETTEETH THEREAROUND; A RATCHET LEVER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID RATCHETHEAD; A PAWL CARRIED BY SAID RATCHET LEVER FOR ENGAGING THE RATCHETTEETH IN ONE DIRECTION OF SWING OF THE RATCHET LEVER TO ROTATE THERATCHET HEAD WITH THE RATCHET LEVER; A SOCKET SLEEVE FIXEDLY MOUNTED ONTHE RATCHET HEAD, SAID SLEEVE BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE LOCKING NUT TOROTATE THE LATTER AS THE RATCHET HEAD IS BEING ROTATED WHILE THE NIPPLEIS HELD FROM ROTATION BY THE FIRST LEVER; SAID SLEEVE HAVING A CIRCULARINNER END, A DISC FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON THE RATCHET HEAD, SAID DISC BEINGFIXEDLY MOUNTED WITHIN THE CIRCULAR INNER END OF THE SOCKET SLEEVE; ANDTHE OUTER END OF SAID SOCKET SLEEVE HAVING A NON-CIRCULAR SHAPE TO SUITTHAT OF THE LOCKING NUT AND RADIALLY SPACED FROM AND CONCENTRICALLYSURROUNDING THE FIRST NAMED HEAD.